Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent | 5,535,934 |
Boiarski ,   et al. | July 16, 1996 |
A device is provided for identifying certain characteristics of an end piece or end effector of a surgical instrument. A preferred embodiment provides a surgical stapling instrument having an electrical circuit contained on the stapling cartridge which is capable of indicating cartridge type and/or status (i.e., with or without staples) when a voltage or current is applied to the circuit.
Inventors: | Boiarski; Anthony A. (Columbus, OH); Byrne; Mark T. (Loveland, OH); Williamson; Warren P. (Loveland, OH) |
Assignee: | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) |
Appl. No.: | 487880 |
Filed: | June 7, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: | 227/175.1; 227/19; 227/176.1; 600/103 |
Intern'l Class: | A61B 017/068 |
Field of Search: | 227/19,175,176,901,178,175.1,176.1,178.1 128/4 |
4907588 | Mar., 1990 | Burston | 606/11. |
5134281 | Jul., 1992 | Bryenton et al. | |
5151085 | Sep., 1992 | Sakurai et al. | 604/22. |
5383880 | Jan., 1995 | Hoover | 227/175. |
Foreign Patent Documents | |||
0408160A1 | Jan., 1991 | EP. | |
0552050A2 | Jul., 1993 | EP. | |
0552423A2 | Jul., 1993 | EP. | |
0581400A1 | Feb., 1994 | EP. | |
0630612A1 | Dec., 1994 | EP. | |
0639349A2 | Feb., 1995 | EP. | |
0679367A2 | Feb., 1995 | EP. | |
4040537A1 | Aug., 1991 | DE. |